Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-03-03
Hero il is y


year 1890 with q cleft bone upon remnant
Of my raiment, my blood being the ink. Ii
my slave should find it when he comes and
should bring it to Delagoa, let my friend
| name lllegible) bring the matter TO the
knowledge of the king that he may send an
army which, if they live through the desert
and the mountains, and can overcome the
brave KukuaneS and their deyiliSh arts, to
| which end many priests should be brought,
will make him the richest king since Solo
mon With my own eyes l have seen the
| countless diamonds stored in SOlOmOn's
treasure chamber behind the white Death >
but through the treachery of Gagool, the
witchfinder, / might bring naught away,
scarcely my life. Let him who comes fol-
low the map, and climb the snow of Sheba' s
lett breast till he comes to the nipple, on
the north side of which is the great road So
lomon made, from whence three days jour-
ney to the Kings Place. Let him kill Gagool.
Pray for my soul. Farewell.
Jose DA SILvEsTRA'
When l had finished reading the above
and shown the copy of the map, drawn by
the dying hand Of the old don with his blood
for ink there followed silence of astonish-
| ment
well" said Captain Good, 81 have been
round the world twice, and put in at most
ports, but may be hung if l ever heard a
yarn like that out of story-book, or in it
| either, for the matttY of that
ITS Queer story, Mr.. Quatermain," said
Sir Henry. Il suppose you are not hoaxing
us? 1t is, l know, sometimes thought al
loWaDle to take a greenhorn in."
III you think that, Sir Henry" said,
much put oat, and pocketing my paper, for
do not like to be thought one Of those silly
fellows who consider it witty to tell lies, and
who are forever Boosting to newcomers Of
extraordinary hunting adventures which
never happened, why there is an end of
the matter" and / rose to go.
Sir Henry laid his large hand upon nv
shoulder ''Sit down, Mr.. Quatermain." he
said; L beg your pardon; / see very well
you do not wish to deceive us, but the story
sounded SO extraordinary that l hardly
could believe it."
I GU shall see the original map and writ
ing when we reach DURHAM" [ said, some
yhat Modified, for really when I came to
consider the matter it WAS scarcely wonder
fui that he should doubt my good faith.
But have not told you about your brother.
knew the man Jim who was with him. He
was Bechuana by birth, good hunter
and for native very clever man. The
morning Mr.. Neville was starting l saw Jim
standing by my wagon and cutting up tobac-
co on the disselboon.
"'Jim,' said I, where are you off to this
trip? Is it elephants%
No, Baas,' he answered, we are after
something worth more than IVORY
And what might that be-" | said for |
was curious. is it gold?
mo, Baas, something worth more than
gold,' and he grinned.
Il did not ask any more questions, for I
did not ike to lower my dignity by seeming
curious, but was puzzled. Presently Jim
finished cutting his tobacco.
'Baas,' said he.
II took no notice.
"'Baas,' said he again.
Eth, boy, what is itp said L.
'Baas, we are going after diamonds
Diamonds! why, then, you are going in
the wrong direction; you should head for
the Fields
"'Baas, have you ever heard of Suliman's
Berg" (SolomoD's Mountains).
"'Ayv
"'Have you ever heard of the diamonds
there?'
II have heard foolish story, JIM
1t is no story, Baas. | once knew wO-
man who came from there, and got to Natal
with her child, she told me-she is dead |
now
't'Your master will feed the aasvogels |
mans country, and so you will if they can
get any picking off your worthless old car
caSs,' said /.
He grinned: Mayhap, Baas. Man must
die; I'd rather like to try a new country
myself; the elephants are getting worked |
out about here
"'Ah! my boy L said, you wait till the
''pale old man" (death) gets grip of your
yellow throat, and then We'll hear what sort |
of tune YOU sing
Half an hour after that i saw NevilIe's
wagon move off. Presently Jim came run
ming back. Goodbye, Baas,' he said, I
didn't like to start without bidding you
goodbye, for | dare say you are right, and
we shall never come back again
"'Is your master really going to Suliman's
Berg, Jim, or are you lyingT
Mo says he; 'he is going. He told me
he was bound to make his fortune some
how, or try to; so he might as well try the
diamonds
"'Ohp said l; wait a bit, Jim; will you
take note to your master, Jim, and prom
Use not to give it to him till You reach Inya-
tip (which was some hundred miles Off.
YES said he
so / took scrap OF paper, and wrote on
it, Let him who comes climb the snow of |
SuCDd ltlI UlGtSl& I'LL ll6 COblcS 10 bilt ulp- a
Pile, on the north side of which is Solomon's |
great road
".Now, JIM said, when you give this |
to your master, tell him he had better follow |
the advice implicitly. You are not to give it |
to him now, because I don't want him back |
asking me questions which won't answer. |
Now, be off, you idle fellow, the wagon is
nearly out of sight
Jim took the note and went, and that is |
all know about your brother, Sir Henry; |
but / am much afraid"
Nh. Quatermain," said Sir Henry, Il am |
going to look for my brother; am going to |
trace him to Suliman's Mountains, and over |
them it necessary, till l lind him, or till l !
know he is dead. Win you come with me" |
am as [ think l have said, cautious |
man, indeed a ready one, and | shrunk from |
such an idea. 1t seemed to me that to start |
on such journey would be to go to certain |
death, and putting other things aside, as | |
had son to support, l could not afford to
die just then.
No, thank you, Sir Henry, / think | had
rather not" | answered. II am too old for